New partnership between CareTech and EY Foundation offers bright future for care leavers

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Date Posted: 22 November 2018

New partnership between CareTech and EY Foundation offers bright future for care leavers

In a first for the care sector, the CareTech Foundation is partnering with social mobility charity EY Foundation to create programmes which promote careers within the care sector and help care leavers fulfil their potential by moving successfully into further education and employment.

Only 6% of young people in care go on to further education, and care leavers are three times more likely than other young people to end up without employment, or not go into further education (NEET). Tackling the barriers facing this group is a critical priority for the CareTech Foundation.

Its partnership with the EY Foundation is the first programme of its kind with a specific focus on the care sector. It will initially provide 16-19 year olds in care with core employability skills and the confidence to enable them to successfully transition from school to work or into further education. Other programmes will also be developed specifically to help those in care move in to work or further education.

The initial programmes will give young people intensive employability skills training and high quality paid work experience within the care sector. They will also receive one-to-one mentoring to ensure they have the support they need to take steps to thrive in the workplace.

The programme is also intended to nurture skills development within the wider care sector. CareTech employees will be able to volunteer as mentors for the programme participants, guided by EY Foundation experience and support. It will also open the door to further skills development for young people starting a career in the care sector.

“This partnership represents an exciting new chapter for us and for the care sector. The evidence concerning the life chances of young people leaving the care system is profoundly worrying, and the need for action is clear.Together, through this collaboration our two foundations are determined to boost the social mobility prospects of some of the most disadvantaged young people and at the same time tackle the massive skills shortage in the social care sector.”

“Too many young people in care are missing out on opportunities to fulfil their potential. We hope this exciting new partnership with Caretech will begin to change that. By supporting young people on our programmes, we believe they will develop the confidence, employability skills and networks to thrive in the workplace and have the kind of futures they aspire to.”

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.